Dr Mark Downs PhD DSc (Hon) CSci CBiol FRSB, Chief Executive of the Royal Society of Biology, has announced he will retire in September 2025.

Having stepped into the role in 2009 to steer the newly formed Society of Biology, the merger of the Institute of Biology and the Bioscience Federation, Mark has led the organisation with integrity and progressive thinking.

Mark’s leadership has enabled the expansion of the staff team four-fold as well as doubling the membership base to over 22,000 individual members with over 80 member organisations. He skilfully navigated the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic, celebrated the 10^th anniversary of the organisation inviting Sir David Attenborough to give a speech at an RSB gala event, and oversaw the launch of the first ever Biology Week, now going into its 13^th year next week. The Society being granted a Royal Title in 2015 to become the Royal Society of Biology was also implemented under Mark’s management, building on the RSB’s mission to be the single unified voice for biology. During his tenure the Society launched the Accreditation scheme of higher education bioscience programmes, with over 70% of all UK universities now delivering an accredited programme. International Degree accreditation has also been awarded to institutes in over a dozen countries across the globe. Mark also pioneered the implementation of the four-day work week, with plans for the RSB to become a fully remote organisation from spring 2025.

Commenting on his time at the RSB, Mark said: “Working with so many talented and dedicated people, especially RSB staff and trustees, from across the range of the biosciences has been a privilege. It is an exciting time for both biology and the RSB and I look forward to continuing to contribute over the next 12 months as we launch our new strategy to further promote biology, support biologists, and highlight the opportunity bioscience offers to help address the many pressing global challenges, from climate change to the burden of disease.”

President of the Royal Society of Biology, Professor Sir Ian Boyd FRSB FRSE FRS, said: “Having led the RSB since 2009 it will be a big change for us all when Mark retires in September 2025 and we will miss him. He has steered the Society through a number of important transitions, including to a Royal title, and a significant expansion of membership. He has put Biology on the map as a discipline supported by a learned society with influence. We are grateful to him for his leadership and dedication, and wish him well in his retirement.”

The announcement of Mark’s retirement timeline allows ample time for a successor to be put in post and for a handover period, thus not interfering with the RSB’s continuity and strategic objectives. Professor Richard Reece CBiol FRSB, Chair of both the Remuneration and HR Committee and the RSB’s Accreditation Committee, will be managing and overseeing the recruitment process over the coming months.